The Ministry of Railways is set to begin the Second Saraighat Rail-cum-Road Bridge Project in Assam. The project includes a 1.3-km double-decker bridge over the Brahmaputra and the doubling of the railway track between Agthori and Kamakhya stations over 7.20 km.
Saraighat Bridge and Brahmaputra Crossing
The Saraighat crossing is located near Guwahati in Assam and spans the Brahmaputra, one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent. The new bridge will carry two railway lines on the lower deck and a three-lane road carriageway with a footpath on the upper deck.
Project Features and Administrative Control
The project falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Northeast Frontier Railway zone. The Railway Board is associated with the monitoring of the project, and Larsen & Toubro has been entrusted with execution.
The railway-doubling work between Agthori and Kamakhya stations was sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in 2024. The bridge project was sanctioned in the 2023–24 financial year with an estimated cost of Rs 14,737.7 million, or Rs 1,473.77 crore.
Construction Timeline and Technical Work
Geotechnical investigations for the bridge have been completed. Detailed estimates were approved by the Railway Board in February 2024, and the design, drawing, and report were finalised in March 2025.
Preparatory works have progressed, and piling works are targeted to commence from October 2026. The project is targeted for completion by December 2029.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Brahmaputra is a transboundary river that flows through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh.
- Guwahati is a major railway and road hub in Assam and the Northeast region.
- Double-decker bridges carry transport on two levels, such as rail on one deck and road on another.
- The Northeast Frontier Railway is one of the 18 railway zones of Indian Railways.
The project includes a 7.20-km railway-doubling section between Agthori and Kamakhya stations. The targeted completion date for the bridge and associated works is December 2029.
